Question
What can I do about the weight gain around my tummy and breasts?
9 September 2010. Related: All topics, Side effects.
I am HIV positive and I am on ARV treatment but the treatment is making me gain weight especially around my breasts and tummy. Is it safe to take slimming powders or weight loosing products?
Answer
Thank you for your question.
If you are gaining weight around your stomach and breasts then it is likely that you are experiencing lipodystrophy which is a fat disorder. Lipodystrophy is a common side effect of HIV medication which has been reported with nearly every combination. Lipodystrophy involves fat accumulating in the abdomen (stomach), breasts, shoulders, neck and is sometimes exaggerated by fat loss from the arms, legs, buttocks and face.
During lipodystrophy fat builds up around your organs rather than under your skin which happens during ‘normal’ weight gain. Slimming powers and weight loss products do not generally work on the fat built up around your organs.
However, there are some things you can do. For a start you could speak to your HIV doctor about changing the HIV treatments you are taking. Additional treatments are explained in detail in this previous question and in the lipodystrophy section of the i-Base guide to ‘Avoiding and managing side effects’
Hi Loly, please talk to your doctor about these changes and explain how they affect you. Sometimes, changing to a different HIV treatment can stop the changes getting any worse. The ulcers are not likely to be caused by the HIV meds, but your doctor needs to know about these too.
I have been taking Arv since ,2010,now I’ve discovered that my breast are getting bigger and are so painfull as if I am expecting a baby and there’s some fluid coming out on both my breast I even have a medium size tummy which I didn’t have before.also suffered from ulcers. Could it be the one regiment that I am taking?
Hi Lynn, it is unusual for HIV meds to cause weight loss. It is probably good to get your doctor to formally record the weight changes. Then, depending on how much weight you have lost, the doctor can try to find out what might be causing this.
Hie I’m on Arvs for five months now my major worry is weight loss is there anything I can take to gain weight.thou I started treatment earlier I’m told my cd4 count is not bad ..I have become so slim wat do I do
Hi Toto,
Weight gain can be due to a lot of reasons. How is your diet, do you exercise?
The issues with temper could be related to the ARVs, what is it that you’re on?
Hi, i’m on treatment since 2008, but now iv gained so much weight, always ill, forgetting things, short temper,
Please help me
Hi Patricia,
7kiols is a lot of weight to lose in the space of 12 days. Therefore, as i-base advocates aren’t medical doctors this is something that you’ll need to talk to a doctor about.
Hi
I’ve been on ARV’s (Atroiza) for 12 days. I’ve gone from 67 to 60 kilos.
Hi Evodis,
There are several 1 pill combinations available. However, for a change to be made you’ll need to talk to your doctor.
Hi … I am on Aluvia and Dumiva. Is there a possibility to be changed to 1pill a day?
The medication makes me sick and I have gained weight so much and I’m scared to be on any slimming routine. I don’t want to disturb my treatment. What do I need to do?